Combined shaft-support and rein-holder.



Patented Nov.l 26, |901. J. D. MGCABE. COMBINED SHAFT SUPPORT AND REIN HOLDER.

rApplicafaon filed Apr. 1s, 19015 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-She'et l.

IIIIIIII Ul .mmi.\-f`i www No. 687,694. Patented Nov- 26, mol.

J. n. MGCABE.

-COMBINE-D SHAFT SUPPORT AND REIN HOLDER.

' (Application filed Apr. 18, 1901.1 (No Model.)

2 Sheivsheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT JEFF D.V MCCABE, OF WOODBURY, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO T. M. BRYAN, OF WOODBURY, TENNESSEE.

COMBINED SHAFT-SUPPORT AND REIN-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,694, dated November 26, 1901.

Application led April 18, 1901. SerialNo. 56,449. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern: V Be itknown that I, JEFF D.MCCABE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Woodbury, in the county of Cannon and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Shaft-Supporter and Rein-Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shaft-supporters and rein-holders for vehicles, and more pario ticularly to that class wherein there is combined in one structure a means for supporting the shafts of a vehicle in an elevated position when not in use and for holding the reins when the vehicle is in use. i5 The objects sought to be accomplished by the present device are threefold-first, the effective bracing of the dashboard, whereby the same will be prevented from buckling or yielding under the weight of the shafts when zo the same are attached thereto when the buggy or other vehicle is not in use; second, the presentation of simple and positive acting means for holding the shafts elevated, and, third, the presentation of simple and effective e5 means for holding the reins.

In the accomplishment of the object firstv stated a dashboard-brace is provided the construction of which Will permit it to straddle and bear against the opposite sides of the 3o dashboard, the strain from the dashboard being removed under the weight of the shafts or the stress applied to the reins by fastening means passing through the bottom of the buggy and into the sill. The dashboard-brace is to be constructed with a view to lightness, strength, and adaptability of positioning for use, means being provided to permit of its adjustment to fit high or low dashboards.

In the accomplishment of the object second 4o stated I provide a device which may operate either automatically or be operated by hand' to hold the shafts elevated, the means for accomplishing this result in the present instance comprising a spring-pressed snap-hook t0 be brought into engagement with a suitable bracket or projection carried by the dashboard-brace, the coaction between the snaphook and the bracket or projection being such that While automatic engagementbetween the 5o parts will be effected separation thereof due to the Weight of the shafts will be obviated,

manual manipulation-of the members of the snap-hook being necessary before disconnection between the parts can be eiected.

In the accomplishment of the object third stated I provide two rein holders, one of which is carried by the upper end ofthe dashboard-brace and the other one on the rear member of the dashboard-brace or that lying within the buggy, the first rein-holder to be 6o engaged by the reins when it is desired to hold them in an elevated position to prevent the horse from switching or catching them and the second to be employed Where heavy strain or pulls will be transmitted to the reins. The second rein-holder in addition to the function ascribed to it may perform that of a robe-holder-that is to say, instead of dropping the robe in the bottom of the buggy, as is the common practice, the upper edge of 7o the robe may be secured to the bracket by the second rein-hoideigand thus be held off the iioor.

Further and more specific objects of the invention and advantages accruing from its use will be hereinafter more specifically pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrated a formof the embodiment of my invention exhibiting generally a device that will carry my ideas into effect, it being understood that other forms of embodiment thereof may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and in these drawings-'- Figure 1 is a View in perspective, partly in section, exhibiting a buggy with my improved shaft-supporterand rein-holder in position 9o on the'dashboard thereof, the shafts being shown as held in elevated position by the device. Fig. 2 is a Vie-W in sectional side elevation showing more clearly certain parts not exhibited in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detached 95 detail view in perspective of the singletree and the cross-bar of the shafts, showing the shaft-supporting snap-hook positioned thereon. Fig. 4c is a view in plan, partly in secloc tion, on an enlarged scale, showing certain parts of the shaft-supporting snap-hook not clearly displayed in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a de-gf tached detail viewin perspective of the dashboard-brace. transverse section through a portion of the upper part of the dashboard-brace. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view of a modified construction of a portion ot' the dashboard-brace that may be employed in lieu ot' that shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8 8 ot' Fig. 6, showing more particularly the manner in which the inner surfaces of the arms of the dashboard-brace are constructed and also the manner in which the rein-holder is assembled with relation to the dashboard-brace.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates generally the dashboard-brace constituting the shaft-supporter and a rein-holder, the same being arranged to straddle the dashboard, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and to be held in place thereon by a bolt 2, passing through the two arms or members of the brace and secured by a nut 3. As shown in Fig. 5, the bolt passes through a slot 4t in each of the arms or members of the brace, thus to permit of adjustment of the brace to dashboards of different heights; but it is to be understood that in lieu of the slots a series of openings may be employed or in conjunction With the slots holes 5 may be utilized for the same purpose. The brace comprises an inner arm or member 6 and an outer arm or member 7, the two being by preference integral and formed of wrought-- iron, although the structure may be made ot' malleable cast-iron. Instead of having all ofthe parts of the brace per se integral, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the two members may be made separately and be assembled with a head 8, as shown in Fig. 7, wherein the head is displayed as provided with a reduced portion 9 to it between the arms or members, these to be held assembled with the head by a rivet or rivets 10.

The inner arm or member 6 extends parallel with the outer arm or member from the head down to the point 1l, whence it is bent outward to form an offset 12, and then for the remaining portion of its length extends parallel with the arm 7. The object for providing the offset 12 is to permit the brace to fit down over the front board 13 of the body of the buggy, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower Aend of the member 6 is provided with an arm or boss 14, which is vertically oriticed for the reception of a bolt 15, the same passing through the sill of the buggy, and is held in place by a n'ut 16, screwed on its lower end and bearing against the sill, the nut being provided with openings 17, through which screws may be inserted to hold the samerigid. The nut 16, as shown, is somewhat in `the nature of a plate, thus to present a broad bearing-surface for distributing the strain from the brace over a large area of the buggy-bottom, thus to reduce danger of cracking or splitting the same. The member 6 is further vprovided near its upper portion with two lugs Fig. 6 is a view in vertical or bosses 18 and 19, respectively, the boss 1S being oriliced at right angles to the length of the arm or member and the boss 19 parallel with the arm or member. 'These two bosses are to be engaged by the main rein-holder 20, the same being constructed ot' apiece of spring-wire or the like bent upon itself to form a loop 21, the arms of the holder being passed through the orifice of the boss 19 and the lower ends of the arms being bent at approximately right angles to their length and housed in the orifice of the boss 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. By this arrangementit will be seen that the rein-holder will be held in position on the member 6 against displacement in use, and by reason ot' the peculiar manner in which it is'bent, as shown in Fig. 6, the reins will be firmly clamped against the member 6 and held there against any strain or stress occasioned by the horse jerking its head from side to side, as will be readily understood. In addition to serving as a rein-holder pure and simple the device just described may perform the function of a robeholdcr, as by passing the upper edge or" the robe between the rein-holder and the member 6 the robe maybe held in position above the floor of the buggy.

Carried by the head S of the brace, the head in this instance being shown as a knob-like structure, although the invention will not be limitedto this particular form of head, is a supplemental rein-holder 22, comprising two arms 23, formed of spring metal and bent to the appropriate shape to hold a pair of reins, the arms being passed through a vertical oritice 24 in the head and having their lower ends bent at right angles to their length, as shown at 25 in Fig. 8, thereby to hold the said rein-holder iirmlyin position in the head. To keep the members of the rein-holder 23 separated at apoint where they enter the head, a liat lng or projection 26 may be employed for the purpose; but it is to be understood that I do not limit this portion of'my device to a combination with this element, as it may be omitted if desired.

The arm or member 7 carries on its outer face a snap-hook-engaging bar 27, the same comprising a vertical rod 28, having a ball or knob 29 at each end, the bar 28by preference to extend parallel to the arm 7, the bar being connected with the member 7 by three or more studs or arms 80. As shown in Fig. 6, this snap-hook-engaging bar is an integral part ot' the member 7; but it is obvious that this bar may be constructed as a separate element and attached to the member 7 without departing from the spirit of my invention. The inner face of the member 7, just back of the snaphook-engagi11g bar, carries a shield 31, which may be ot' leather or other suitable material, the object ot' this shield being to protect the front of the dashboard from being marred or damaged from the shaft-supporting snaphook when the same is brought into engagement with the snap-hook-engaging bar, as

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will hereinafter more fully appear. This shield, as shown in Figs. 5 and c 6, is let into a recess 32, formed in the inner face of the member 7, to cause the shield to lie flush or substantially iiush with the space; but, if preferred, it may be secured in other ways in position or maylie against the inner face of the member 7 and be secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by rivets or the like.

The opposing faces of the arms 6 and 7 may be flat; but Where a Vertical bracebar of the dashboard of the buggy is arranged exactly in the center of the dashboard provision must be made to permit the brace being seated in position. To effect this, the opposing faces of the cross-bars are grooved or channeled out, as shown at 33a in Fig. 8, the substantially circular passage-way thus formed between thetwo members permitting the brace being straddled over the brace-bar of the dashboard.

The shaft-supporting snap-hook7 to which reference has been made, comprises two curved arms 33, provided in this instance at their contacting ends with knobs or heads 34,

whereby to present a guide 35 to engage the bar 28 when the shafts are elevated to the posit-ion in Fig. l, thus to effect automatic separation of the arms 33. Instead of having the arms provided with the heads or knobs 34 the ends may be slightly bent inward to present the guide 35 or may be beveled or inclined for the same purpose or may be otherwise constructed for performing the function described. The arms are held in position for operation by the bolt 36, that holds the singletree 37 to the cross-bar 3S of the shaft, a spring 39, coiled about the bolt 36 and having its ends bearing against the outer surfaces of the arms 33, serving to hold these normally closed, as shown in Fig. 4. The spring herein shown is simply illustrative of one way of arranging the same to cause the arms 33 normally to remain closed, and as various other arrangements ofthe spring may be employed for the purpose defined it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the use of the form of springillustrated. The spring and the pivoted ends of the arms are housed in an open-sided cap 40 to shield these parts from damage and to give a finished appearance to this part of the invention, the bolt 36 being extended above the cap 40 and provided with an eye tl to be engaged by a ring 42, this ring to be leather or rubber covered to prevent rattling in use. The ring 42 constitutes an emergency attachment to be used should the shaft-supporting snap-hook fail to work or be broken, and in this case the ring would be hooked over the knob 29 of the snap-hook-engaging bar, as clearly shown in Fig. l. l

When the shafts are elevated to the positions shown in Figs. l and 2, the ends of the arms 33 bear upon one or the other of the arms 30 of the snap-hook-engaging bar, thereby holding the shafts in desirable position.

The particular features of advantage presented by the device herein described are its simplicity, compactness, certainty of operation, cheapness of construction, and ease with which it may be secured in place for operation, the onlychange in the structural arrangement of the buggy necessary to apply it to position being to provide the bottom of the buggy with an opening for the accommo-f dation of the bolt 15.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim `is f 1. A rein-holder an-d shaft-supporter comprising two connected members to straddle a dashboard and to be bolted toa vehiclebottom, the inner member carrying a reinholder, and the outer member a vertical bar to be engaged by means carried by the crossbar of the shaft to hold the same in elevated position.

2. A rein-holder and shaft-supporter comvertical opening of the upper boss and itsV ends seated in the opening in the lower boss.

3. A rein-holder and shaft-supporter comprising two connected members to straddle a dashboard'and bolted to a vehicle-bottom, the inner member being provided near its lower extremity with a vertically-orificed boss through which passes a bolt for securing the device to the bottom of the vehicle and near its upper portion with two lugs or bosses, the lower one of which is oriticed at right angles to the member and the other one parallel therewith, a rein-holder comprising a piece of resilient metal bent upon itself to form a loop and having its members passed through the vertical opening of the upper boss and its ends seated in the opening in the lower boss, and a-vertical bar carried by the outer member to be engaged by means carried by the cross-bar of the shafts to hold the same in elevated position.

. 4. A rein-holder and shaft-supporter comprising two connected members to straddle a dashboard andV bolted to a vehicle-bottom,

the inner member being provided near its IOO IIO

of resilient metal bent upon `itself to form a loop and having its members passed through i the vertical opening of the upper boss and its ends seated in the opening in the lower boss, a vertical bar carried by the outer member to be engaged by means carried by the crossbar of the shafts to hold the same in elevated position, and a shield carried by the outer member back of the said bar to protect the dashboard from injury in the use of the devlce.

5. A rein-holder and shaft supporter comprising two connected members to straddle a dashboard and to be bolted to a vehiclebottom, the inner member carrying a reinholder, constituting the main rein-holder, the

upper end of the structure carrying a reinholder constituting a supplemental device, and the outer member vcarrying a bar to be engaged by means carried by the cross-bar of the shafts to hold the same in elevated position, and a shield carried by the outer member and arranged back of the bar.

6. A reineholder and shaft-supporter comprising two connected members to straddle the dashboard and to be bolted to a vehiclebottom, the members being provided, near their lower extremities, with a plurality of slots oropenings'through two of which passes a bolt to secure the members to the dashboard, the slots or openings providing means to permit of the device being adjusted to dashboards of different heights, the inner member carrying a rein-holder, and the outer member a vertical bar, in combination with a snap-hook carried by the cross-bar of the shafts, the snap-hook to engage with the bar.

7. A rein-holder and shaft-supporter comprising two connected members to straddle a dashboard and to be bolted to a vehicle-bottom, the inner member and the top of the .structure carrying each a rein-holder, and the outer member a vertical bar carrying on its upper end a knob or head, the bar being associated with the said outer member by a plurality of studs or arms, in combination with a snap-hook carried by the cross-bar of the shafts, the members of the snap-hook to bear upon one of the studs to hold the shafts in elevated position, the outer member being provided back of the bar with a shield to prevent damage to the dashboard by contact between it and the snap-hook.

8. The combination with a cross-bar of a vehicle, of asnap-hook comprising two curved members pivotally held in connection with the cross-bar by the singletree-bolt, a spring held in position by the bolt and bearing on the arms to keep the same normally closed, the meeting ends of the arms being formed with a guide or inout, in combination with a rein-holder and shaft-supporter comprising two connected members to straddle the dashboard and to be bolted to a vehicle-bottom,

the outer member of the rein-holder and shaftsupporter being provided with a bar associated with the member by studs or arms, the studs or arms to be engaged by the members of the snap-hook to hold the shafts in elevated position.

9. A rein-holder and shaft-supporter comprising in its construction, a head carryinga resilient rein-holder and two members integral with the head, the inner member being formed near its bottom with an offset to fit over the front board of the buggy and with a lug or projection through which passes abolt to secure the structure to the bottom of a vehicle, the inner and outer members being each provided with a plurality of alined slots or openings to be engaged by a bolt for clamping the members against the dashboard, the inner member being further provided, near its upper portion, with two bosses one of which is vertically oriticed and the other transversely oriticed, a resilient rein-holder having its members passed through the vertical orifice of the upper boss and its lower ends bent at right angles to its length and inserted in the orifice of the lower boss, a bar associated with the outer member by studs or arms, the upper end of the bar being provided with a knob or head, in combination with a spring-pressed snap-hook carried by the cross-bar of the shafts, the members of the snap-hook to engage with studs of the bar to hold the shafts in elevated position and the upper end of the singletree-bolt being provided with an eye engaged by a ring to constitute an emergency device to be brought into engagement with the knob on the bar should the snap-hook fail to work, asuitable cap or casing carried by the singletree serving to house the joint and spring of the snaphook to shield the same from damage.

l0. A rein-holder and shaft-supporter comprising two connecting members to Straddle a dashboard and to be bolted to a'vehicle-body, the opposing faces of the members being curved or channeled out to permit the device to be placed over a brace-bar of the dashboard should the same be located in the center thereof, a resilient rein-holder carried by the inner member, a resilient rein-holder carried by the top of the device, a snap-hookengaging bar carried by the outer bar, and a `shield carried by the outer member back of the snap-hook-engaging bar.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JEFF D. MCCABE.

Witnesses:

JOE ROBERTSON, @LING MINGLE.

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